Slide Show: Commencement

The rain that kept New Yorkers wet throughout most of the month of May didn’t dampen spirits at The Juilliard School’s 98th commencement ceremonies on May 23 in Alice Tully Hall. A new page in Juilliard history was written as the first Artist Diplomas in Jazz were awarded to seven students from the Institute for Jazz Studies. Another landmark was the presentation of the first two Artist Diplomas in Directing. In total, 242 degrees were awarded: 9 Diplomas, 32 Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees; 65 Bachelors of Music; 8 Graduate Diplomas, 92 Masters of Music, 29 Artist Diplomas, and 7 Doctors of Musical Art.

Honorary doctorates were awarded to actress Marian Seldes; ballet master Alfredo Corvino; the late flutist Julius Baker; trumpeter William Vacchiano; jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis; and soprano Renée Fleming, who delivered the commencement address printed on these pages and who treated the audience to a spirited performance of "On the Beginning," a song composed for the occasion by Pre-College Division Director Andrew Thomas, who also accompanied.

Five students won special awards that were announced at the end of the ceremonies: Stephan Laks received the Martha Hill Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in dance; Jeffrey Biehl received the Michel and Suria Saint-Denis Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in drama; the Richard F. French Award was presented to Cameron Stowe for outstanding work on a doctoral document; Shalanda Bond won the Peter Mennin Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in music of an undergraduate student; and Jihea Hong and Patrick Kabanda shared the honor of the William Schuman Prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in music of a graduate student.

The rain let up just long enough so that the graduates and their families could gather on the Milstein Plaza following commencement for refreshments, congratulations, and many sighs of relief."

After singing "On the Beginning," composed by Pre-College Director Andrew Thomas, at the commencement ceremonies, soprano and alumna Renee Fleming delivered the annual address to the graduating class. More...